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Egypt: Politicians, Public Figures Welcome New Pope

Several Egyptian politicians, officials and public figures welcomed on Sunday the appointment of Bishop Tawadros as the new Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

They praised the electoral process of the 118th Coptic Pope, adding that challenging responsibilities await him.

Prime Minister Hisham Kandil congratulated on Facebook all Copts for the election of Pope Tawadros.

Kandil pointed to the importance of the upcoming phase for the Orthodox Church.

“This is a reinforcement of the honorable national role of this church in the history of Egypt.”

Army leaders, officers, noncommissioned officers and soldiers all congratulate Copts for the election of the 118th Pope of the Orthodox Coptic Church, official spokesman of the army said, adding that they wish the Pope every success in the prelature to serve Egypt.

Mohamed Badea, General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, also congratulated the Pope on his election.

“His eminence Bishop Tawadros, Pope of the Alexandria Church and Patriarch of St. Mark Episcopate, I offer you my heartfelt congratulations and wish you success and prosperity for the benefit of the beloved Egypt and its people,” Badea wrote on Facebook.

The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) “congratulates Bishop Tawadros for his election as the new Pope of the Orthodox Coptic Church,” Mohamed Saad al-Katatni, head of the party, wrote on Facebook.

“We are optimistic with the fruitful cooperation with him as the spiritual leader of our Coptic brothers to spread morals and emphasize the values of freedom, justice and equality,” al-Katatni added.

“This is a historic day in the national course,” Ahmed Shafiq, former presidential candidate, wrote on Twitter, adding that we remember the good memory of the late Pope Shenouda III and wish the new Pope Tawadros success.

The process of electing the Pope “stresses the steadiness of the Egyptian Church,” Shafiq added.

Mohamed ElBaradei also congratulated all Copts and the new Pope on his Twitter account.

Amr Moussa, former presidential candidate and head of the Conference Party, congratulated the Egyptian people and wished the new Pope a successful era “that sponsors and supports national unity.”

“Big responsibilities await the Pope,” Moussa stated.

He expressed his confidence in the new Pope, saying, “We believe he will be a true partner in rebuilding the authentic Egyptian spirit that has been lost.”

Khaled Ali, former presidential candidate, congratulated the Egyptian people on Twitter for the election of Bishop Tawadros as the new Pope.

Political sciences professor and founder of Egypt Freedom Party Amr Hamzawi and novelist Alaa al-Aswany congratulated on their Twitter accounts all Egyptians for the election of the new Pope as well.

Pope Tawadros succeeds the late Pope Shenouda III who passed away last March.